The public awareness of current Eagles and former Colts wide receiver Hank Baskett’s middling NFL career nearly caught up to that of his off-the-field life when Baskett let the third quarter-opening onside kick in Super Bowl XLIV bounce off his facemask, and into the arms of Saints safety Chris Reis.
Baskett was let go by Indianapolis after the season. He says the botched play, which turned the tide in the game, has not affected him since.
“What’s funny is I haven’t heard one thing about the onsides kick,” Baskett told Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia. “People know me, especially the people in Philadelphia, and they know me more for my special teams play than anything. One play does not make a career and one play does not change a game.
“You make a big catch at the end of the game and score a touchdown and for the team that loses there is still a lot of things that could have happened in the other 60 minutes of the game. Everyone that knows football knows that one play does not decide a game. Anyway, I’ve learned you have to let stuff go in one ear and out the other.”